I recently took myself off to Cornwall for 4 days painting in Cornwall ‘en plein air’.
4 Days painting in Cornwall
The last time I painted there was many years ago, in Watercolours, so I decided to have a change from my recent haunts. Instead of Wexford, Ireland and the Norfolk Broads, I went back to Cornwall for 4 days painting.
I packed the car with everything I needed and off I went to Penzance, a good base for west Cornwall. From there it was easy to visit the many pretty little coves, fishing harbours and rocky coastlines. Down narrow roads, steep hills, and lovely hostelries.
The first morning it was pouring with rain at Newlyn Harbour, so I found a little fishermans shelter and worked fast. Standing beneath a clear umbrella, so as not to cut out the light. I was in the newer part of the harbour, where the large boats unload their catches. Lines of refrigerated lorries were ready to take the fresh fish onwards to the finest restaurants in the major cities.
After a light lunch, I went a little way to Marazion, which overlooks St Michaels Mount. Here I painted the view from the beach using the sea wall for shelter from the wind.
The sun had brightened up and before too long I had my second painting in the bag. Actually I put it on the floor of the car, under the front seat, where it can dry without being touched.
The next day brought rain early morning, so I took the opportunity to see the excellent Stanhope Forbes exhibition at Penlee House Gallery. It is my favourite gallery, outside of London. When I emerged, full of inspiration, the sun had also emerged so I decided on a day at Mousehole. I set up on the
Harbour arm and started work and soon was joined by a bus load of American artists. They were with their tutor and all doing watercolours.
The afternoon brought continued good weather so I stayed and painted another oil of the outside of the harbour entrance. This shows the rocks with the afternoon sun breaking on the water.
Later I went to the next cove, Lamorna, where Samuel John ‘Lamorna’ Birch RA, RWS, had lived and painted from 1892 onwards. I arrived in the pouring rain, again. Despite it being a lovely picturesque cove, at the end of an endless steep lane, the weather had turned. It was now quite dark and grey, so I called it a day and returned back to Penzance.
The next day I was bound for The Lizard, England’s most southerly point. Hooray it was bright and dry, as I walked down to the Lizard point. It features a lighthouse, a rocky coast and an abandoned lifeboat station complete with launching ramp.
I picked up the South West coast path, and the strong winds which are usual for this coast. Eventually I found a bush to hide in, from the wind with a view of the Man O’ War rocks, and managed an 8″ x 16″ oil painting.
Lunch was in a pub with a cousin I hadn’t seen for many years, and afterwards I ventured to Cadgwith Cove. Probably my favourite harbour, which is quite well sheltered. A beautiful place with its own fishing fleet, duly captured on board size: 12″ x 17″. Again working under the umbrella at times.
The next day I drove to the north coast at the Levant mine, where I would have liked to capture the old steam engine chimneys. They are dotted along the rocky coastline.
By this time the wind was approaching gale force now so I ventured up the coast road near Zennor. Here I stopped to do a painting, from in the car. It was rocking in the wind, yet I did manage to capture the coastal view in front of me with some success.
Then on to St Ives for lunch and afterwards to Portreath, where the winds were still very strong and the RNLI were patrolling the red flagged beach.
I did manage an Indian ink drawing of the view before me with some interesting rock strata patterns. Before my journey home the next day, I managed a stop at St Mawes, on the Roseland Peninsular. Here I
began an oil painting of the harbour area, but after about an hour or so along came the rain.
It was now time to pack up and return home, and finish this in the studio.
I hope you enjoy these paintings, which are all available and will be put in my online Artfinder shop after drying and varnishing.
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Next Time – My 3rd Solo Exhibition in Ramsgate, Kent
‘Chasing the Light’ Not to be missed!